Storage battery cell filler



July 24, 1934. J, J, LlNDlNGER 1,967,831

STORAGE BATTERY CELL FILLER Filed Feb. l2, 1952 Patented July 24, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STORAGE BATTERY CELL FILLER `lohn 3; Lindinger, Philadelphia, Pa., assigner to The Electric Storage Battery Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey l Application February 12, 1932, Serial No. 592,507

4 Claims.

The subject of my invention is a device for filling liquid containing receptacles such as the cells of an electric storage battery.

The features of my invention include a casing 5" having a passage therethrough and an outlet at its lower end, a valve adapted to close the upper end of said passage, a second valve mounted externally of said casing and adapted to close the outlet from said passage and means for actul'- ating said first mentioned valve in response to movements of said second mentioned valve.

It is also a feature of my invention to surround the lower portion of said casing with parts of insulating and acid resistant material so that l `the casing is protected from the corrosive effect of acid and also so that the casing may serve as a circuit maker and breaker when the level of the electrolyte in the cell rises to a point to con- Vtact with the metallic casing.

For a further exposition of my invention reference may be had to the annexed drawing and specication at the end whereof my invention will be specifically pointed out and claimed.

. In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts in vertical cross section.

Figure 2 is a view of parts of my device at right angles to Figure l with parts in Vertical cross section.

For illustration in the drawing and specification I have selected one embodiment from the many embodiments which my device may take. As shown, my device consists of a metallic tube or casing 5 having a passage 6 passing there- 36` through. At its lower end passage 6 communi- Cates with lateral openings 'I and at its upper end connects with an inlet opening 8 to which a feeding tube 9 is attached. The lower end of ltube 5 is closed by a cap 10 preferably of hard rubber or other suitable insulating and acid resistant material.

Mounted on the exterior of the lower part of tube 5 there is provided a sleeve 11 preferably of hard rubber or similar material. Sleeve 11 carries at its upper end a flange 12 for a purpose hereinafter described. At its lower end sleeve 11 is adapted to open and close openings 7 and also carries a pin or other fastening means 13 rigidly attached thereto. Pin 13 rides in a slot 14 in valve stem 15.

Valve stem 15 carries at its upper end a valve 16 shown as of the ball type and cooperating with a valve seat 17 in the upper part of tube 5. Spring 18 urges valve 16 towards closed position.

The operation of my device is as follows:

(C1. 22e-12s) Tube 5 is inserted into the filling opening' (shown in Figure 2 as B) of a storage battery cell or other liquid container into which liquid is to`be filled. Flange 12 engages with the neck or side wall of the filling opening and lifts sleeve 90' 11 thereby opening lateral openings '7. Pin 13 moves in slot 14 and in the upper extension of openings 7 so that sleeve 1l is readily movable. After considerable movement of sleeve 1l so that lateral openings 7 are opened to a considerable 35` extent, pin 13 engages the upper end of slot 14 and lifts valve stem 15 thereby opening valve 16 against the pressure of spring 18. Liquid then flows from a source of supply (not shown) through filling tube 9 and through the passage 6 in tube 70' 5 and through openings '7 into the liquid container to be filled.

If my device is used for lling a storage battery cell, after the above cycle of operations have taken place, the electrolyte in the cell rises around cap 10 and contacts with tube 5 at the exposed portion between cap 10 and sleeve 1l. This contact may be utilized to close a circuit (not shown) and actuate a light (not shown) or other signal to inform the operator that the cell is filled to a desired degree.

When the cell or other device to be lled has been filled to the desired extent tube 5 is lifted out of the device to be filled. This lifts sleeve 11 away from the part of the device to be filled 85 which has been supporting it and permits sleeve 1l to move downward under the stress of spring 18. After a limited downward movement of sleeve 11 valve 16 closes thereby shutting off the v flow of fluid through passage 6. Lateral openy ings '7 remain open for an appreciable period after the closing of valve 16. This permits the escape of the fluid retained in passage 6 and thereby prevents drip after the tube 5 has been lifted from the device to be lled.

I do not intend to be limited in the practice of my invention save as the scope of the prior art and of the attached claims may require.

I claim:

1. A llling device including in combination a tube having a passage therethrough and an opening from said passage, forming the only outlet from said passage, a valve in said tube adapted to close said passage, a second valve mounted on the exterior of said tube and adapted to close said opening by contact with said tube forming the only outlet, means providing a lost motion connection between said first valve and said second valve, and means for urging said first valve toward closed position.

lcd

2. A filling device including a tube having a passage therethrough and an opening from said passage, forming the only outlet from said passage, a valve in said tube controlling said passage, a sleeve on the exterior surface of said tube controlling said opening, and means providing a lost motion connection between said valve and said sleeve whereby said sleeve opens said opening before said valve opens and closes said opening by contact with said tube after said valve has closed.

3. A filling device including a metallic casing having a passage therethrough and an opening forming the only outlet from said passage, a valve in said casing controlling said passage, an imperforate cap of insulating material'surrounding the lower end of said casing, a second valve of insulating material surrounding said casing adjacent said cap and controlling said opening, and means whereby said second valve opens said opening before said rst valve has opened and 2 Loezssi closes said opening after said first valve has closed. i

4. A cell lliiig device for storage batteries including a tube having an axial passage therethrough and an opening adjacent the lower end of and forming the only outlet from said passage, an imperforate cap of insulating material surrounding the lower end of said tube, a valve in said tube contrlling said passage, a sleeve of insulating material surrounding said tube adjacent said cap and controlling said opening, a pin carried by said sleeve projecting through said passage and said opening, a valve stern connected to said valve and having lost motion connection with said pin, and a spring stressing said valve toward closed position, said Valve and said valve stem'and said pin and said sleeve being so arranged that said sleeveV opens said opening before said valve opens and closes said opening after said valve has closed.

JOHN J. LINDINGER. 

